Lubricating bar



Feb. 24, 1931. a. F. CLARKE ET AL LUBRICAT ING BAR Filed Aug. 19. 1929 yPatented Feb( 24, 1931 AuNrrEDsra'ras PATENToFFIcE i BENJAMIN r. CLARKEAND WILLLAMJVMCDONALD, or uns MOINES, Iowa LUBRICATING BAR' Applicationled August 19, 1929. Serial No. 386,864.

j The object of this invention is to provide -an improved constructionfor a tool 1n the nature of a `pry bar which is particularly useful `inthe operation of lubricating vehicle 5 springs.

A further object ofthe invention is to pro- 'beinfr used in such manneras to relieve the :a j i pressure on the spring shackles and spring icsnspensionbolts in `such mannerthat lubricant may be readily introducedto the parts which ordinarily receive the greatest `pres- `1 v sureandthe greatest amount of wear 1n use.

`Stillanother` object of the invention `is to i5 provide an improved prybar having an arcu ate fulcrum member adjacent to one end to facilitatethe operation of separating two j yieldably connected members.

Another and further object of the invention is to provide a tool of theclass described which is simple and economical in construction andcapableof use in a variety of ways and in many diierent positions forfacilitating lubricating operations. lith theseA and other obj inventionconsists in the construction, arrangement andcombination ot' the variousparts of our device, whereby the objectscontemplated are attained, ashereinafter more fully set forth, pointed outI in our claims,andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: j v

Figure 1 is a planviewof our improved tool.

Figure 2 is a side elevationof the same.

Figure 3 is an elevation partly in section illustrating the method ofusing the tool with relationto vehicle spring constructions in j whichspring shackles are employed. Figure 4 is an elevation showing the toolin section and in positionfor use with a dil` ferent type of springconstruction wherein the spring is connected directly to a boltcar-`riedby the horn of theframe member.

'Figure 5 is a section on the line 5 5 ot Figure 4, showing the tool inelevation` and in position for use.` u

Figure 6 is an elevation showing the tool as employed for use with aVstill different type of spring construction in which the spring is ectsin view, our

arranged transversely above the vehicle axle.

`Figure 7 is a sectional elevation illustrating a modied form of tool inposition for use with a vehicle construction having spring shackles anda bumper arranged closeto the W i N `end ol the spring and frame member.vide an improved tool which 1s capable of l The `toolor lubricating baras `shown in- `cludes a relatively straight body `portionl() which isflattened, slightly curved and attenuated at one end to form ablade 12.It will be noted from Figure 2 that the blade does not extend laterallybeyond the lon- 1 extends substantially at right angles thereto and isattenuated atits end. i i

A fulcrum member 18is formed or mount- TS ed on the shank 14. As shownin Figures 1 and 2, the fulcrum member is separately formed and is ofchannel shape and is secured to the shank 14 by rivets or the like 20;

. The `ulcrum member 18 preferably is of "5 substantially right angledconstruction, having its longer leg extending along the shank 14 and itsshorter leg extending therefrom at a point near the juncture of theshank and body 10, The hypotenuse of the fulcrum se member is formed ona convex arc and is designated bythe numeral 18. This arcuate surface isprovided to permit a rolling or j easy sliding contact with an object ashereinafter set Jforth. j a5 le have illustrated several dilierentmethods of using the bar or tool `for causing a rel-- ative shiftingofvehicle springs and `their.

`suspension means whereby the strain on the parts maybe temporarilyrelieved to facilie" tate the introduction of lubricant thereto.

In Figure 3 there is shown a vehicle spring i construction in which theside frame member including at its upper end a bolt 34 which isVreceived rather loosely in the bore 26 of the horn and at its lower enda similar bolt 36 which is received rather' loosely in the eye 30Vothejspring.

Each shackle bolt 34 and 36 is vtormed with yalongitudinal recess vo rpassage 38 having radially extending discharge ports 40 opening` to thecircumference'of the bolt. These passagesy and discharge ports areemployed for-forcing grease to those parts of the shackle bolts whichcontact frictionally with the members in which they are mounted.l

The method ot lubricating these shackleboltsusually involves the use oiwell known pressure devices. v Y

Itis well known., however, that on account 'of the weight which rests on'the shackle'bolts,

whereby those parts which receive the greatestfwear are causedtoforciblycontactfwith the surfaces of the members inwhich they are received, suchfor instance as the upper part of thebore 26 and the lower part of theeye 30, it is diiiicult to cause the grease to reach the parts whichare' mostly in'needof e lubrication. .Y

` By the use of our'tool this strain may be Vtemporarily relieved andthis is accomthe respective members.

plished, with respect to this particular construction; as yindicated inFigure 3;

The hooked end of the bar is insertedbe- Y tween the side members oftheshackl'e 32 with the hook portion 16 facing upwardly and the curvedface 18 contacting with the inner part of the periphery of the eye 3v()vof the spring. I

Pressure is then applied to the tool by bearingv down on the outer endof the body 10 in the direction of' the 4arrow a, whereby they toseparate the members as shown in Fig-k ure 3.

This separation moves the horn 24 and springy 28 away from those partsof; the shackle bolts'which are ordinarily in contact Vand permits thegrease to be extruded from the discharge passages 4() to those pointswhich receive the greatest wear and are, therefore.,Y in most need ofreceivinglubrication.

Then the tool is removed by upward and outward movement and theoperation' is'repeated at other points" on the vehicle'. y

` In the construction according' to Figures 4 and 5 no shackles areemployed but the eye 420i thespring 44 isl received direjetlyon a member50.

y bolt 46 carriedby the horn 48 of thel frame' the use of the cationNith respect to this spring construction,

the tool may be inserted laterally between the rear ends of the springandY frame membenor its horn, in substantially the same position aspreviously referred to. The pressure is then applied in the direction ofthe arrow b in Figure. n. 'Y

' The shank portion 14 is causedtoengage beneath or against the lowerface of the frame member 150 and the `curved ulcrum face 18f is causedtoY engage againstt'he Vupper surface vof the spring '44, thu-sfacilitating Vthe operation of slightly spreading these members for apurpose similar to that 'al-Y ready described. v j l n In Figure 6therey is illustrateda type of spring construct-ionin which the spring52is mountedfabove the'axle member 54 and parallel therewith. rheend'sof the spring 52- are supported by spring shackles 56 suspended Vfromposts 58V carried'bv theaxle4;

In.` using the tool with respect to thistype ot' spring construction,the flat blade 12 is yemployed and isr inserted between the axle- 54 andthe end of thespring and shackle as shown in Figure 6( Dmvnward pressureis exerted in the direction of the arrow c tolift the weight carriedbythe spring andv permit a lmovement of the spring andfsh-ackle bolts 60whereby the insertion of the lubricant is permitted in the requiredpoints. In this operation the curved outcrface of the VAblade, which wehave designa-ted by the numeral .12', is caused to ride on the'nppe'rface of the axle 54.

In the construction according to Figure 7 there is shown a springarrangement similar to that of Figure 3 and in which the same numeralsare employed todesignatc corresponding parts. The construction includesalso a bumper member 62which is placedV so close to the ends of theframe member and spring as to cause .some interference with tool in thelubricating operation. I v f Y For this reason we have shown a modifiedform of tool in which the handle or body portion 10 is formed with adownward oit'set 10 near that endv carrying the fulcrum member. Thisoffset permits the insertion of theftool behind the bumper 62' asclearly shown. The pressure is applied to the outer end oi the toolinthe direction of the arrow 0l' for separating the members to permit yproper lubrication'.

Through the use of our improved tool,v in any or all of the methodsillustrated and described, we have great-ly facilitated the. operationofintroducing lubricant to4 the spring suspending members which receivethe great`- est wear.' in use. This tool greatly reduces the amount oflabor requiredfor this; operation and insures th'atxthei lubricantYwilll feach the 'pontswhiehz are most-lyfn medion-lubril We claim as ourinvention:

` l. A tool for use in relieving the weight i s on a vehicle spring,comprising aV body por tion, said body portion terminating in a shankhaving a flat blade at its end, said blade having its point curvedlaterally and hooked, a fulcrum member on said blade having a convexfulcrum surface on its forward side, said convex surface being adaptedto ride on one object as pressure is applied to the body portion of thetool to cause the blade to forcibly Contact with another object spacedfrom the first object, said body portion being offset rearwardly of saidfulcrum member in the same general direction as the projection oi saidfulcrum surface from the blade, to permit insertion of said tool betweena bumper and a vehicle spring.

2. A tool for use in relieving the normal weight on a vehicle s rino'com )rising a bod 23 C D portion, a shank having a curved blade, and afulcrum member on the opposite side of the shank from the direction ofcurvature of its blade, said fulcrum member being of substantiallyright-angled form having one leg extending along said shank and theother leg extending away therefrom, the ends of said legs beingconnected adjacent said blade by

